Fudge The Labrador With Coonhound Disease

Fudge first came to us in January with Coonhound disease which is a neurological disorder that effects and inflames the peripheral and multiple  roots of the nerves-mainly the spinal nerves — causing the body to malfunction, have paralysis to all limbs and severe muscle wastage. Over the past 6 months we have experienced the highs and lows of Fudge and his loving and patient mum, Liz. Just when we thought the going was getting tough Fudge turned a corner and has not looked back. This is a story written by Fudges mum Liz that gives you an insight into the day of the life and progress of Fudges’ recovery. If it wasn’t for the patience, persistence and the love Liz has for this gorgeous boy he would not be here today. It is important for dogs with this acute polyneuropathy to have physio, hydrotherapy and dedicated owners to get them through. This was well worth the battle. 
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Sharon, K9 SWiM

Liz's story "Fudge My Wonder Dog"

Coonhound Disease - Idiopathic Polyradiculoneuritis (ACIP)

​My interpretation;
Poly - like Polio
Radiculo - ridiculous (as in 'bloody ridiculous')
Neuritis - neurological 

Meet Fudge

​12 years old, stoic, gentle natured, happy, easy going at the same time quite sensitive, absolutely adorable, much loved, very hansom chocolate brown Labrador!​
Early this year 05/01/17 Fudge contracted this disease for the second time and we chose to move forward in caring for him, hoping and praying that it wouldn't take as long as it did in 2012 to recover which was 6 months.

Thankfully this time we could care for him at home and his symptoms didn't increase as drastically as had previously, he could hold his head up and he could eat, drink and wee and poop!

A typical day in the life of caring for a 33-kilo paralysed adorable choc lab

Let's start at say 6am; lift / roll him off his bed that has a waterproof sheet on it, a towel and a blanket that is urine soaked, replace clean bedding, wash him, turn him and place him back on the bed.​
There is a load of previous soiled bedding in the washing machine, one on the clothes line and another in the dryer, there are no towels left in the linen closet!

Make a slurry of water and try everything you have to get him to drink, milk, ice cream, vegemite, stock, meat.... anything! It's a similar procedure with food, chicken, mince beef, fresh veggies ...... Anything ....please eat!
You're very tired as you did this regime at 3am, midnight and probably about 9 or 10pm the previous night. Then there is getting on the floor and doing the physiotherapy, massage and cuddles! It's a test of endurance, this regime changes over time, it does get easier as Fudge gets better as he has more control over his bodily functions and as he is able to wriggle / roll the nights become a lot easier. After many Kurrajong Vet visits with loads of encouragement and support from all the team there a month had passed by with not much change in Fudge. 

Then we were introduced to K9 SWiM and we haven't looked back!

By the end of the second month Fudge had started swimming, it was hard as he is heavy and I didn't have much help with getting him there, but where there is a will there is a way!
​My husband got a large garden trolley from Bunnings and we figured out a way to transport Fudge and the trolley in my Corolla, all I needed was help lifting him in and out of the car and I could do it! All the girls at K9 SWiM have been so kind and so helpful. 

By the end of the third month Fudge was having 3 swims a week and Brooke or Sharon did photonic sessions on him and he was slowly beginning to get a bit of movement in him limbs.
In April things were getting tough, and although I did get help and support from my family and the K9 team, I was at the end of my rope and I went to the Vet one day totally exhausted and just about ready to pack it, once again I was encouraged and they suggested trying a course of steroids, so we did. 

These helped and Fudge started to get a bit more movement and strength. (although the side effects were a problem especially with his muscle tone) 
We were at the vet regularly with 'he won't wee' or 'he won't poop', or 'he won't drink or eat' one time he had to have his bladder seen to and 2 litres came out!! 
He was off the steroids by the time May came around and we persisted, Fudge loved his swims and he loved all the attention and love given to him by all the girls. Not much change happened over the next few weeks except that we were encouraged as his swimming improved with him being able to swim the length of the pool without too much help, which was exciting. ​

Our Homemade Canine Treadmill

By this time, we had also built a device at home that had a sling and sat on top of a treadmill, we also had a 'mechanical lifter' to get him in and out. (my garage looks like a torched chamber with chains hanging from the ceiling and so on) On May the 26th Fudge saw Rob Willis at Sharon's Nth Richmond Clinic, Rob did acupuncture and gave fudge a NES Scan and after suggested the following; Liver tonic and Deer Velvet tablets to increase Vitamin B3, Zinc and Protein.

​The changes in Fudge over the next 3 weeks have been incredible, firstly he seemed very relaxed and his sleep seemed more soundly (so much so, I was jealous and ordered some human Deer Velvet for myself). Next, I found him sitting right up on his from paws, then he seemed to be bearing his weight when we stood him up in his 'help’m up harness', then amazingly he began to take steps on his own once we stood him up.

Fudge’s Amazing Progress

​We are absolutely amazed at this progress, it has been 6 months on the 5th of July and we are pretty much back to normal, it’s been a long arduous journey but not travelled alone, we are so thankful to have had the chance to receive therapy from Sharon and her wonderful team at K9 SWiM, from the Kurrajong Vet’s and from Dr Rob Willis. 

The problem with this disease is that not many people have heard about it, most vets have possibly seen it once or twice in their time and rarely have they seen a dog healed from it. It’s hard when you don’t really know the future, you don’t know if your dog will recover, you don’t know the ‘odds’. It’s full time care, you can’t work, can’t go out for more than a few hours at a time, it’s really a choice to put your life on hold and you don’t know for how long. 
If you were to ask what has helped the most with Fudge’s recovery, I would have to say it’s been a combined effort of lots of praying, a very kind and caring regular vet, the unbelievable support and kindness from K9 SWiM and having the chance for treatment from Rob Willis with some miraculous results, we have been truly blessed!!

Fudge has started to walk, he has not completely recovered but it's just a matter of a little more time and he will be back to his old self. We could not have persisted this second time with this disease without the help and support of Sharon and all the girls, they have been so encouraging and they genuinely love Fudge and he loves them. If you met Fudge you would love him too! 

"FUDGE IS MY WONDER DOG"
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​Liz Smyth